Boyup Brook ratepayers face 7 per cent rates hike

Boyup Brook residents face a 7 per cent rates rise this year with Shire councillors backing the increase as part of the 2024-25 budget adoption. The budget was adopted by the Boyup Brook council during a special meeting on July 30. Rates revenue will reach almost $4 million this financial year — a $239,412 increase from 2023-24. The gross rental value rate in the dollar will increase from 15.8467 to 16.9560 cents, while the unimproved value will increase from 0.4553 to 0.4873 cents. Minimum payments will increase to $1142 for unimproved value properties and $1262 for gross rental value properties — up from $1067 and $1179 respectively. As part of the 2024-25 budget, $143,340 will be set aside for the maintenance of community housing, and $340,000 for bridge repairs, while $962,659 will be used for the operations of Rylington Park. Evacuation centre renovations have been allocated $1,707,000, with the Department of Fire and Emergency Services providing a grant to cover $813,000 of those costs. Weekly waste collection services will increase to $263.20 while fortnightly recycling removal services will rise to $131.60. Shire president Richard Walker said the council was conscious of rising costs and aimed to achieve a balanced budget for the year. “(We’re) trying to be conscious of rising costs from both sides of the equation, for the ratepayers and well as the operation costs of the shire,” he said. “We’ve also been through a period of lower-than-normal rate increases and trying to get projects happening around town. “Inflation’s obviously had a big impact, so we’re looking to maintain operations and try to make improvements where we can. “Staffing is really important (and making sure the) business side of the shire operates successfully. “Traditionally we’ve had a drag on our resources, from the medical practice and (those) type of things, so we do have costs to our shire that other shires don’t incur to an extent.” Shire chief executive Leonard Long said the decision to raise rates considered several factors. “Across the board, everything has increased, as with any other business would have,” he said. “It takes in a whole lot of factors — inflation, cost of council, but mainly the budget.”